US2226464A - Stopper for drains - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1940- I H. z. GORA STOPPER FOR DRAINS Filed July 18, 1939 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,226,464 STOPPER FOR BRAINS Henry Z. Gora, Bridgeport, 001111., assignor to Jenkins Bross New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 18, 1939, Serial No. 285,187

10 Claims.

This invention relates to watertight closures for drain openings such as used in bathtubs, washbasins, sinks and the like.

Closures of the type referred to commonly inelude a stopper of rubber or like material that is provided with a post, sometimes embedded therein and sometimes passed therethrough, which is apertured to receive a ring connected to a chain. Even when the ring is properly applied initially and is of proper proportions with respect to the aperture, the post tends to stick on the ring with lapse of time and use, so that when the plug is lowered by the chain it does not hang plumb, but is cooked with respect thereto, thereby interfering with ready insertion in the drain opening, and this difficulty is accentuated if the ring becomes distorted or for other reasons the post fails to slip easily along the ring. Furthermore, if it is necessary or desirable to replace the stop- 20 per, removal of the ring from the post is noteasily effected, and then only with pliers. also been proposed to apply bead chains to stoppers by use of special adaptors or connectors, but devices of this type heretofore suggested have been open to various objections,,being complicated and expensive to manufacture, not easily assembled and disassembled, etc., and accordingly they have not received wide acceptance.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved stopper assembly with a post and chain of such construction that the stopper will normally hang plumb from the chain and thereby facilitate insertion into the drain opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized in which the chain may be readily connected to; and disconnected from the post to facilitate assembly and replacement. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which,.though facilitating connection and disconnection of the chain to and from the post, is so constructed as to assure against accidental disconnection.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which will permit the chain to assume a position, when the chain is not taut, such that no loop is formed in the chain at or adjacent its attachment to the post. i w l Another object of this invention. is to provide a device of the type characterized which is relatively simple in construction'and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is both sanitary and durable.

Another object of this invention is to provide It has a stopper with a post connected to a bead chain wherein connection and disconnection of the chain to and from the post is facilitated.

Another object of this invention is to provide an assembly as just referred to wherein accidental disconnection of the chain from the post is prevented.

Another object-of this invention is to provide a stopper witha post connected to a bead chain wherein the end of the chain connected with the 10 post is caused to assume such a relationship to the post when the chain is not taut that said end of the chain lies nearly or quite at a right angle to the axis of the post.

Another object of this invention is to provide a 15 stopper with a post connected to a bead chain wherein the post may be formed as a stamping and thereby a minimum number of simple operations are involved in the fabrication of the post.

Another object of this invention is to provide a 20 stopper with a post connected to a bead chain wherein a permanent connection between the post and the stopper material is assured.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide a stopper with a post connected to a bead chain 25 which is simple in construction, and strong and durable in service.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety 30 of mechanical expressions, some of which are shown on the accompanying drawing, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only, and is not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the inven- 35 tion, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawing, wherein the same reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in the several fig- 4o ures,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial section of the embodiment of Fig. 1 on a larger scale; 45

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the post of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a sectional view and a top plan view of another embodiment;

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a top plan view and a sectional view of yet another embodiment 50 of the present invention; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a top plan view and a sectional view of yet another embodiment, but on a smaller scale.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a stopper IQ of any suitable size, form and material has embedded therein and integrally locked thereto a post H to which is attached a bead chain l2. The post II is preferably formed as a stamping so that it may be inexpensively produced, and as shown is composed of an inner tubular portion I3 having at its inner extremity an outwardly directed flange 14. The outer portion l5 of the post is also tubular in form and preferably of a somewhat reduced diameter as respects the portion l3 so as to provide an inwardly inclined shoulder I5. Thus the material of the stopper l G, as rubber, may be molded about the inner end of the post and vulcanized, with the flange I4 embedded in the stopper material and the upper face H of the stopper disposed outside of the shoulder It, so as to interlock the post in the stopper at spaced locations.

The tip of the post II is preferably curved symmetrically to the axis of the post, at least at its inner surface, and while as hereinafter referred to in connection with the embodiment next to be described, a single slot may be provided, the preferred embodiment of this invention employs four radially extended slots l8 which meet in an aperture at the axis of the post, the transverse dimensions of said slots and of said aperture being smaller than the diameter of the end bead 20 of said chain It but large enough to pass freely the adjacent link 2| thereof. At one side of the post a slot 58 leads into an aperture 19 which is of such size as to pass freely said end bead 20 of the chain. To prevent accidental disconnection of the chain from the post after the end bead 28 has been passed through the aperture 19 and the end link 2! has been passed into the slot i 8 communicating therewith, said slot is provided with an inwardly projecting lug 22 having an inclined lower face 23 to permit wedging of the end link 2! therepast, said lug having its inner face 23' substantially at a right angle to the wall of the slot so that it will resist withdrawal of the link past said lug 22 except when said lug is aligned with the space between said lug and the opposite wall of theslot and considerable pressure is exerted thereon in the direction of the slot to force it past said lug.

When the stopper is suspended on the chain the end bead is centered by the inner curved surface at the end of the post and the stopper will always hang plumb therefrom. When the stopper is in operative position or resting upon any surface, the weight of the chain when released will carry it into one of the four slots l8, as shown in Fig. 1, because as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 3, the sharp corners provided by the intersection of the slots I8 leaves no surface on which the end link 2| can hang, whereby gravity will pull the chain downwardly with the end link 2i falling into that one of the four slots l8 toward which gravity happens to be acting when chain 23 is released. Hence no loop can .form. at the inner end of the chain as would occur if the end link were held in the axis of the post when the chain is released. While four slots 18 have been shown, this number is not essentialprovided that a sumcient number of slots is used so that the chain will fall into one of them when released.

The inner end of the post may be closed as in the next embodiment to be described, either by an integral end wall as shown in Fig. 4 or by a separate attached wall as shown in Fig. '7, but to increase the extent of adhesion between the post and the stopper material, and also to decrease the interior recess as more sanitary, a disk 24 of metal or other suitable material is preferably seated on the inner face of the shoulder l6, thereby preventing the stopper material from being forced into the outer portion of the post during the molding operation, while providing that the stopper material fills the portion i3 and thereby increases the contact between the post and stopper material to effect better adhesion therebetween. While the disk 24 may be and preferably is a separate disk that is applied to the post, this is not essential as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 employs a tubular post of much the same configuration and construction as that above described in conjunction with the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 3 but here the inner end of the post has an end wall 25 formed integrally therewith and connected to the tubular portion [3 by a reverse fold providing a flange 26. This post may also be formed by a stamping operation, after which the end portion l5 of said post is subjected to a suitable shaping operation. In the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 a single slot 2! is shown as leading to the aperture l9 through which the end head of the chain is passed, but as will be apparent a plurality of intersecting slots i8 may be used in this embodiment as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3. As shown in Fig. 5, the slot 27 tapers at 28 to provide a narrow neck 29 through which the end link may be wedged or forced into the aperture 39 at the axis of the post. Said constriction in the slot 21 will resist accidental withdrawal of the end link frotn the aperture 30, but said end link may be forced therethrough when properly aligned therewith and a suitable force is exerted thereon.

As an additional means for loclnng the end ball in the post the metal cut to provide the aperture l9 may not be completely severed from the body of the post, as shown in the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7, so as to leave an inwardly directed flap 3| that is joined to the side wall of the post at 32,

the structure of Figs. 6 and 7 being otherwise the 1 same as that of Figs. 4 and 5, although if preferred some or all of the features of the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 3 may also be used in this embodiment. When the end bead 28 is passed through the aperture IS! the flap 3| is forced downwardly sufficiently to permit the ball to move therepast, after which said flap 3!, preferably by the inherent resiliency of its attachment at 32, is moved back sufficiently to lock the end ball within the post, and this will prevent disconnection of the bead chain from. the post even though by accident a sufiicient tug is applied to thechain in an angular direction with respect to the axis of the post to pull the chain into the slot 21.- However, by depressing the flap 3| the post can be readily disconnected from the chain as in the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 7 shows end wall 25 separably formed from and beaded onto a flange at the end of tubular portion l3.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment of the invention which in many respects is similar to that of Figs. 2 and 3 but employing three slots 40 spaced 120 apart and intersecting at an aperture at the axis of the post which will pass the end link but not the end bead of the chain. At

one side of the post one of the slots 40 leads into an aperture 42', tangentially thereof, which is of a size to pass the end bead 20 of the chain. As in the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3, one wall of the slot 40 leading to aperture 42' has an inwardly projecting lug 42 having an inclined face 43 to permit wedging of the end link therepast, but resisting movement in the opposite direction to prevent accidental disconnection of the chain from the post.

It will therefore be perceived that the present .invention provides a stopper with a post which tends to hang freely at the end of the chain so that it can be lowered into a drain opening without the stopper being cocked with respect to the chain to interfere with ready introduction of the stopper. The post provided can be readily connected to and disconnected from the chain, no tool being required to complete the connection after the post has been applied to the chain and, except in the embodiments of Figs. 6 and '7 which may require a simple pressure on the flap 3| to depress the same, no tool is required to disconnect the post from the chain. While the post is thus readily attachable to and disconnectible from the chain, accidental disconnection is prevented, and this is effected without the use of parts which may work loose in service. Provision is also made for the elimination of a loop at the inner end of the chain when the chain is not taut. The post is so formed that it may be rapidly and inexpensively formed from a stamping, with simple finishing operations that do not require skilled labor or expensive machinery, and it is integrally locked with the material of the stopper, preferably at spaced locations at the flange and the shoulder referred to, while the adhesion of the post to the stopper material can be increased as disclosed by causing the stopper material to be engaged in the interior of the post.

While the embodiments illustrated on the drawing have been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as other embodiments of the present inventionwill now readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Thus while a hollow post is preferred because of the economies involved in the production of the same, such is not necessary within some of the broader aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, features illustrated in connection with only one embodiment may be used with other embodiments; thus, for example, the inner disk 24 rather than the integral end wall 25 may be used in such embodiments of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 4 to '7, or a plurality of intersecting slots l8 may be used in these embodiments, etc. Changes may also be made in the details of construction, proportion, material, etc., as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, it is to be expressly understood that the stopper may be of any suitable form and character, its details constituting no part of the present invention, and the bead chain may be of any suitable form, character and construction, its details also forming no part of the present invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stopper and a post having an outwardly extending flange embedded in said stopper whereby said post is rigidly secured in said stopper, said post being 'hollow at its outer end exteriorly of said stopper and having an end aperture at its axis, one or more slots leading into said aperture, and an aperture at the side communicating with a slot, said last named aperture being large enough to pass the end bead of a bead chain and said axial aperture and slot or slots being large enough to pass a link of said chain but not large enough to pass a head of said chain.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stopper and a post interlocked with the material of said stopper at its inner end, said post at its junction with the upper face of said stopper having a shoulder underlying the stopper material at said face, said post being hollow at its outer end and having an aperture at its end, one or more slots leading into said aperture and a side aperture communicating with a slot, said last named slot and end aperture being of a size to pass the link of a bead chain but of insufficient size to pass a bead of said chain, and said side aperture being of a size to pass the end bead of said chain.

3. In a device ofthe character described, the

combination of a stopper and a post interlocked with the material of said stopper and having at least its outer end hollow, said post having an aperture at it's'outer end, a plurality of slots leading to said aperture and an aperture at the side communicating with a slot, said slots and end aperture being of a size to pass the link of a bead chain but not large enough to pass a head of said chain, and said side aperture being of sufiicient size to pass a bead of said chain.

4'. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stopper and a post interlocked with the material of said stopper and having at least its outer end hollow, said post having an aperture at its outer end, a plurality of slots leading to said aperture and an aperture at the side communicating with one of said slots, said slots and end aperture being of a size to pass freely the link of a bead chain but'not large enough to pass a bead of said chain and said side apeliture being of sufficient size to pass a head of said chain, said slots intersecting at points whereby the chain will fall into one of said slots under the action of gravity when the chain is not taut.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stopper and a post interlocked with the material of said stopper and having at least its outer end hollow, said post having an aperture at its outer end, a plurality of slots leading to said aperture and an aperture at the side communicating with a slot, said slots and end aperture being of a size to pass the link of a bead chain but not 'large enough to pass a bead of said chain and said side aperture being of sufficient size to pass a bead of said chain, and a lug in said slot leading to said side aperture for preventing accidental disengagement of the chain from said post.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stopper and a post interlocked with the material of said stopper and having at least its outer end hollow, said post having an aperture at its outer end, one or more slots leading to said aperture and an aperture at the side communicating with a slot, said slot or slots and end aperture being of a size to pass the link of a bead chain but not large enough to pass a bead of said chain and said side aperture being of sufficient size to pass a bead of said chain, said post having a wall to prevent ingress of the stopper material into at least a portion of the interior of said post.

'7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stopper and a hollow post interlocked with the material of said stopper, said post having an aperture at its outer end,one or more slots leading to said aperture and an aperture in the side communicating With a slot, said slot or slots and end aperture being of a size to pass the link of a bead chain but not large enough to pass a bead of said chain and said side ape-rture being of suflicient size to pass a bead of said chain, said post having a partition separating the interior thereof into an outer chamber and an inner chamber and said inner chamber being substantially filled by the stopper material.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stopper and a post interlocked with the material of said stopper and having at least its outer end hollow, said post having an aperture at its outer end, a plurality of slots leading to said aperture and an aperture in the side communicating with a slot, said slots and end aperture being of a size to pass the link of a bead chain but not large enough to pass a bead of said chain and said side aperture being of sufficient size to pass a bead of said chain, "said s'lot leading from said side aperture being provided with a constriction permitting re'adylpassage of the chain link therepast in one direction and resisting but not preventing passage of the chain link in the opposite direction.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a stopper, a post integrallyunited to said stopper and having at least its outer end hollow and a bead chain having its end bead received Within the outer hollow end of said pos't, said post having an axially disposed end aperture of a size to pass a link of said chain but not a bead thereof, one or more slots leading thereinto andof a size to pass said link and a side aperture communicating with a slot and of a size to pass a bead of said chain and the inner wall of the hollow end of said post being shaped to center. the end ball of said chain whereby said stopper will always hang plumb from said chain.

10. In a device'of the character described, the combination of a stopper, a post integrally united to said stopper and having at least its outer end hollow and a bead chain having its end bead received within the outer hollow end of said post, said post having an axially disposed end' aperture of a size to pass a link of said chain but not a bead thereof, a plurality of slots leading thereinto and a side aperture communicating with one of said slots and of a size to pass ahead of. the chain, said slots intersecting at points and being of such Width that said chain link will readily fall into one of said slots under the action of gravity on said chain and prevent the formation of a loop at the stopper end of the chain when said chain is not taut,and the slot leading from said side aperture being formed to permit pass-age of a chain link in one direction and to oppose but'not prevent passage of said chain link in the opposite direction.

HENRY -Z. GORA.

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